Just picked up my X100s today after having sold my X-E1 and 35mm f1.4 to raise the money. So far its proving to be a great camera and I'm starting to learn the differences between the 2 cameras. I have to say though that the lens is disappointingly soft at f2! This is a real blow after having the tack sharp 35mm lens on the X-E1 even when shot at f1.4.
ct8282 wrote:
Just picked up my X100s today after having sold my X-E1 and 35mm f1.4 to raise the money. So far its proving to be a great camera and I'm starting to learn the differences between the 2 cameras. I have to say though that the lens is disappointingly soft at f2! This is a real blow after having the tack sharp 35mm lens on the X-E1 even when shot at f1.4.
Must be a crap copy or I'm doing something hideously wrong then. Will try and get some samples up shortly. Only got the cam today but shots at f2 look weak compared to the results from the X-E1 at 35mm f1.4. Images are noticeably sharper at f2.8 but I don't want to be using the X100s too often at anything other than f2.
douglasf13 wrote:
How close are you shooting wide open?
Have taken a few at different distances but closer shots, say 2ft or nearer look soft. If you're thinking focus shift or parallax error I've tried shooting using EVF, rear LCD, and manual focus to rule this out.
My friend and I did an impromptu test between the EOS M with 22mm F/2 lens and a Fuji X100. Yes the Fuji is much more capable and serious camera, but the Canon was noticeably sharper wide open than the Fuji. The little Canon 22mm was even sharper than my 35L at F/2.
ct8282 wrote:
Have taken a few at different distances but closer shots, say 2ft or nearer look soft. If you're thinking focus shift or parallax error I've tried shooting using EVF, rear LCD, and manual focus to rule this out.
Yep, it's a well known fact that the closer you get with this lens at f2, the softer things get. It isn't a great lens for wide open, up close shots. The manual even suggests not to use it below f4 when in macro mode. If you want a lot of detail up close, I'd stop it down a stop or two, but f2 will start sharpening up nicely if you move a little further away. At most test chart distances, the lens performs nicely at f2, but up close, not so much.
ct8282 wrote:
Ok. That's a bit crap really. How far would you say then you need to be from your subject to get decent results at f2?
That's entirely dependent on how demanding you are in regards to detail, as well as your output size. I personally try not to get closer than 4-5ft if I'm shooting people with a 35mm (equiv.) lens, unless I purposefully want their faces to distort a bit (can be flattering with kids,) and I don't have issues with the lens at that distance, but I really don't mind the lens at 2-3 feet, either, since the lens is still ok. It's really only at macro distances where the lens is nearly unusable at f2, unless you want a really glowy effect.
Thanks. I guess I just have to learn to work with it.
I'm spoilt from using the Sigma 35mm f1.4 on my D4 and D800 and that lens smashes everything you throw at it at f1.4. Distortion is ridiculously well controlled and shots at very close distances are just astonishing.
I guess comparing the X100s to the X-E1 with 35mm f1.4 (even though the focal length is different) and the Sigma 35mm f1.4 I'm feeling a bit hard done by having paid £999 for a camera that can't even deliver at f2.
Dude, calm down. I'm not personally attacking you am I? I know the X100 and X100s are amazing cameras. That's not in question. I'm merely saying that at f2 they simply do not compete with the Fujinon 35mm f1.4 and Sigma f1.4 when wide open. They just don't.
If I feel hard done by that's my problem. No need to make it yours and get all weirdly defensive. The fact is that at close distance and at f2 the X100 produces softer images than the other 2 lenses I mention. Fact.
ct8282 wrote:
Dude, calm down. I'm not personally attacking you am I? I know the X100 and X100s are amazing cameras. That's not in question. I'm merely saying that at f2 they simply do not compete with the Fujinon 35mm f1.4 and Sigma f1.4 when wide open. They just don't.
If I feel hard done by that's my problem. No need to make it yours and get all weirdly defensive. The fact is that at close distance and at f2 the X100 produces softer images than the other 2 lenses I mention. Fact.
Keep in mind that it's possible that the X100s' lens performs better at distance than the others. I'm not sure if that's the case, but many lenses have trade offs at different distances.
?? Am I the only one who didn't know? I feel dumb now.